Electric switch



Aug. 28, 1923. 1,466,349

F. T. WHEELER ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 9, 1919 III! HI]: [III E w A? E Patented Aug. 28, 192 3. V

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ram '1. 01' GOHNECTICUT, ASSIGHOB TO THE .TBUIBULL mc'rnrc mUIAGIUI-IIG 00., O! PLAIIIVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION nnc'rarcswrrcn Application lled a1, a, me. let!!! I9. 000,043.

To all whom it concern:

7 Be it known that I, Fm T. Wnmmn,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Plainville, Connecticut, have in- 6 vented a new,and useful Electric Switch, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'particul d to inclosed switches of the so-call ed safet type wherein the box in which. the switch is mounted can only be 0 ed when the switch is thrown to the o circuit position. In these switxhei, as heroltolfgre constructed, the

o nmg' o teswitc xexposes certain Ii parts of the switch. It is the object-of my present invention to guard these live parts of the switch when the box is open and to protect the operator from contact with such parts.

The invention accordingly resides in the provision of a guard which covers .the live parts of the switch mechanism, but leaves other parts, such as the fuses, uncovered and accessible. This guard may be secured in position by means of screws or by means of a and a suitable seal may be provided.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated the invention embodied in different practical forms, but wish it understood that iurther modifications maybe made without departure from the truespirit and scope of the invention.

Fig. 1, is a front view of an inclosed switch with. the box shown open and the guard in its protective position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a broken'detail view of a portion of the guardand supporting bracket.

Fig. 4 is a view of asllghtly modified form of the invention.

5 designates the box body provided with the usual d cover 6. The switch mechanism may o course be of any suitable construction and is shown generally as consists ing of switch blades 7 adapted for enga ment with contacts 8, said switch blades .ing hinged at 9 and operated by an external handle 10. V

The switch shown is provided with fuses 11 engaged in suitable clips 12, and both the switch and the fuses are shown mounted on the same base 13. r

- The switchshown in the drawings is-of the bottom fused tips "with the switch mechanism occupying e upper portion of receive a sealing wire or other suitable sealthe box and the .fuses disposed in the lower portion of the box.

The gua'rd consists of a plate 14 usually of sheet metal, secured in the portion of the box containing the switch mechanism and terminating at the end of such switch mechanism so as to leave the fuses wholly exposed and easily accessible.

This guard plate is preferably disposed substantially flush with the rim of the box and thelower end of the guard is shown bent inwardly at an angle to provide a portion .15 extending in relatively close to the switch mechanism. The box cover when in the closed position preferably comes into proximity to or substantially rests upon the guard plate. By this. construction a ve compact box is provided and one in Whi a maximum amount of interior space is provided without unduly increasing the overall dimensions of the box. Thisinturned portion of the plate prevents insertion of the fingers from below and the front of the guard plate prevents direct access to the live parts of the switch, which in this instance may be the contact terminals '8.

In the first construction disclosed the guard plate is supported, and secured in position by means of supporting brackets 16 mounted on the opposite side walls of the box and extending inwardly into position beneath the guard and a third. bracket 17 mounted on-the upper or top wall of the box. 'The guard rests on these three inwardly extending brackets and is shown socured thereto by screws 18, the heads of said screws being shown as seated in depressions 19 formed in the plate. For the purpose of sealing the guard in its protective position, I have shown the side brackets ldprovided with angularly -upstanding extensions 20 which project up through slots 21 provided in the guard plate and which are provided at their upper ends with perforations 22 to g means 23. "With this construction the ard plate may be readily secured position over the liveswitch parts and sealed in this condition. "When necessary, however, the guard plate may be entire y removed from the box by breaking the seal and taking out the Y screws 18.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 the guard is rpade a permanent part of the boxfipermanently hinging it thereplace by the sealing means already described.

I claim: a i '1. An enclosed switch construction comprising a box having a cover, stationary and movab e switch members mounted therein,

- detachable fuses connected withsaid switch members, stationary supports in said box, a guard plate detachably secured to said supports in said box and comprising a main portion extending over said stationary and movable switch members and an angularly disposed portion extending inwardly from the main portion toward sa d fuses, said construction permitting free access to said fuses when the cover of the box is open and without movement of said guard plate but said guard plate preventing access to said stationary and movable switch members when the box is open.

2. In an enclosed switch construction a box including a cover, a switch mounted therein and including stationary and movable members, external means for operating said switch independently of the position of the cover, fuses connected tosaidswitch members, and a guard plate detachably secured in said box and covering and preventing access to said stationary and movable .switch members when the cover is open and having an extension projecting over parts of said fuses but permitting access to said fuses when said cover is open.

3. In an enclosed switch a box including a cover, a switch mounted in said box and having stationary and movable switch members, fuses connected with said switch, brackets secured to the end and sides of said box, a guard plate detachably mounted on said brackets covering said switch members and disposed extension projecting from the plane thereof and adapted to prevent accidental contact with the switch members but to permit access to the said switch fuses when the cover of the box is open.

5. In an electric switch, a switch box, inwardly extendin supporting brackets on .difierent side wa ls of said switch box, a

guard plate supported by said brackets and having a depressed seat, one of said brackets havin an upstanding lug and the gfiard plate avin an opening therein through which said ug is passed.

6. In an electric switch, a switch box, inwardly extendin supporting brackets on diifefientl sidiel wa lsdof saidd switch box, a guar p ate avmg epresse seats supported by said brackets, some of said brackets having upstanding lugs, the guard plate having openings therein through which said lugs are passed and sealing means engaged with said upstanding ortions of the brackets above the guard p ate.

.7. An enclosed switch construction com-- prising a box including a cover, brackets secured to the inner side walls of said box, stationary and movable switch members mounted in said box, fuses connected to said switch members and a guard plate detachably secured to said brackets and extending over said switch members and havi g an extension projecting toward said fu es to prevent accidental contact with said switch members when the cover of the box is open, but to permit free accem to said fuses without disturbing said guard plate.

FRANK T. WHEELER. 

